…you definitely need to loosen up a bit.
Okay, so my job has a lot going for it. It has a comprehensive benefits package. There is room for advancement for motivated employees. It’s in a well-maintained building that is close to my bank, dentist, favourite restaurants, shopping, foxy former co-workers, etc. They’re also remarkably understanding and accommodating at office functions re: my strictly voluntary dietary restrictions. I am deeply grateful for that.
But…they don’t like people eating lunch at their desks. The girl who trained me explained the philosophy thusly: “Nothing that requires a utensil! If you’re fiddling with utensils, you’re not working.” O…kay. Yet Bake Club members are free to use forks to eat cake at their desks. Bizarre.
So covert finger-food it was! I’ve spent the past two years surreptitiously nibbling a PB&J at my desk. Yes! I became a walking vegan stereotype, and decided it was high time for a change. (By now you might be wondering why I don’t just eat in the lunch room. I tried that for a while, but prefer actually leaving the office to stretch my legs, run errands, etc. Not unreasonable after a morning in front of the computer.) I decided that tofu sandwiches were the way to go: whole grain and fibre from the bread, plus protein and calcium from the tofu, with only a fraction of the sugar of a PB&J.
A couple of weeks ago I made the Sweet Chili Lime Tofu from Vegan Yum Yum. A little mustard, some lettuce, and it was delicious. Last week, I was lazy and made Southern Fried Shake n’ Bake tofu. I still had a package of the coating left and could have done it again this week, but I wanted something a little different.
I used the basic bread-and-bake method for the Cornmeal Crusted Chili Lime Tofu from Veganomicon, but made my own coating of panko crumbs and a Roasted Chili and Tamarind/Roasted Garlic and Peppers mix (both by Clubhouse seasonings). It’s got just the right amount of kick, and a wonderfully crispy finish – and the only way it could be even easier to make is if it breaded and baked itself. Seriously.
Behold, the healthy-eating rebel!
The Witty Child 